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Background

Sandies Dry Cleaner and Laundry, 513 Grand Ave., Little Chute, Wisconsin, operated from 1957 to about 2003 and had been vacant since 2006. The facility contained old dry cleaner and laundry machines and other related equipment. The current owner allegedly used tetrachloroethylene, also referred to as PCE or PERC, a chemical solvent commonly used in the dry cleaning industry. PCE is a concern because it evaporates easily in the air.

Soil contaminated with PCE was found near the dry cleaning machine at the site and in the air next door. In addition, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health Services found PCE vapors in the indoor air of businesses and residences next door in February 2011. Historic dumping of PCE resulted in significant soil contamination. PCE moved through the soil into the ground water and traveled off-site where vapors entered neighboring properties.

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Site Updates

September 2012

Cleanup at Sandies Dry Cleaner and Laundry has been completed.

EPA started its cleanup at Sandies in September 2011. In a year’s time, we removed about 116 tons of PCE-contaminated soil and one drum containing solvents contaminated with trichloroethylene, or TCE. All hazardous waste was disposed of in state-approved landfills.

Six vapor control systems were installed--three inside Sandies, one inside the bar and one inside the bakery on either side of Sandies, and one inside a home southwest of the site. Air samples taken from nearby homes and businesses showed that PCE vapors are below the state’s “action levels.” These actions are preventing low levels of vapors from moving into the two businesses as well as an apartment attached to the bakery building.

Air and ground water samples helped us find PCE, TCE, 1, 1-dichloroethane, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are often found together. In this case, they were related to the PCE used at Sandies while it was open for business.

Three ground water monitoring wells were installed. Samples collected confirmed the presence of PCE contamination. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is the lead agency concerning any follow-up actions necessary to address contaminated ground water. It is doing its own investigation to determine the extent of ground water contamination.

The cleanup was done in coordination with state and local governments.